MULHOUSE, France – Columbia men’s squash player Ramit Tandon is off to a great start at the 2013 WSF Men’s World Team Championships, winning his first three matches for his home country of India.

The WSF Championships pits nations against each other, using a best of three format, versus the best of nine used at the collegiate level. In the first round, India swept Finland, 3-0, highlighted by a stellar upset by Tandon. The No. 2 match featured Tandon, the 232nd ranked player in the world, downing the 36th ranked Henrik Mustonen in four games, 11-4, 11-6, 11-13, 11-4.

Tandon followed that victory with a pair of 3-0 sweeps in his next two matches, defeating Venezuela’s Miguel Mendez and Hong Kong’s Yip Tsz Fung.

With the three wins, India as a team will advance to the quarterfinals on June 13 where they will meet the winner of the Pakistan vs. Australia match.

Visit the WSF site to find up-to-date info on all the action from France this week and continue to check GoColumbiaLions.com for updates on Tandon’s progress.

On paper, Ramit is around the 232 WR, while Henrik is 36. Both of them young, the Indian, 20, Henrik 22. But much more exposure to the top of the game for Henrik, as he's been reaching the main draw of several World Series recently. Hence, the result should have been an easy 3/0.

Easy it wasn't. 3/0 neither.

Basically, Ramit took Henrik to the throat, and never let go, well, except in the 3rd, when I guess the fear of winning stopped him from doing what he was doing so well from the start, as in going for it and no holds barred. Mixed with Henrik pride, determination and experience, we were treated to a 4th, Ramit unable to transform his match ball.

And in that last one, it was back to business for the India, who just mixed a perfect accuracy on the backhand with superb short game, and you have the first big upset of this part of the competition, 3/1 Ramit....

Ramit

“What I ate at lunch?? Well, pastas, French pastas, that is the secret!!!”

“I'm studying at Columbia and training with the top players like Julian Illingworth, Wael El Hindi, Hisham Ashour, Chris Gordon, etc. So I knew I was getting to a good level, it was just a question of transforming it into matches. I knew that I was getting closer, I lost to Shawn Delierre in four and very close match. And today, I just did what I know how to do, I just attacked. Cyrus told me that Henrik is fit and strong, so made it as hard as possible for him, and today, it worked for me.”

“I think I should have won in three, but the old nerves that crept in, and now, I just hope Mahesh or Saurav will win, I think we've got a good chance.”